Death Metal Luna

Be Yourself

  TJ's POV

I awoke suddenly as the alarm went off. I was flush and panting from the dream I was having. It was the same one I have been having for a week. A handsome man would take me to bed, and we would have the hottest s*x. I only ever saw his body and never his face. Each time I woke up, Tarja would be howling happily in my head and panting. Today was no exception as I made my way to the bathroom I shared with my siblings. I was always the first one out of bed, so I got the hottest water. This morning, I chose a cold shower to try and get the dream out of my head.

I wanted to concentrate on training. It was my biggest passion next to my music. Even though I was planning on leaving the pack in a week, I still wanted to be the best fighter I could be. I would need it while out on my own. My boys needed me to protect them.

After the shower, I dressed in a black sports bra and black shorts. I put my sneakers on and jogged out of my room and down the stairs. My father was sitting at the kitchen table sipping coffee. "Good morning, Tempe," He greeted me.

"Morning Dad. Were you up all night?"

He nodded. "Rogues were testing the borders all night. You know, trying to find weaknesses in Granny Witch's barrier. With Clif and Beau away, it's my job to supervise the warriors." He explained. Alpha Clifton and Beta Beau were at another pack.

"And you didn't wake me? I want to kill some rogues." I sat at the table and grabbed a banana from the bowl in the middle.

He smiled at me and patted my arm. "We don't kill them unless they trespass, which with the barrier they rarely trespass. Don't worry. You will get your shot to kill rogues soon."

I couldn't help but smile. My father was pretty much the only person in my family that seemed to try to understand me. He was the one that got me into heavy music as a little girl. He encouraged me to play in the band. He also was adamant about me training to be a warrior. "Well, Dad. I hope you get some sleep. I am going to training." I stood up and kissed his cheek.

"That's my girl. Ted is probably waiting for you to kick his ass again." He chuckled.

"I think Ted likes it when I beat him."

My father let out a hearty laugh. "I would put money on that," He replied and stood up. "I have to go get some sleep before the Alpha returns. See you later, Temp. Kill it at band practice."

"Thanks, Dad." I waved as I ran out of the house. I jogged my way towards the training field. A few warriors were milling about, sparring and warming up. I waved to a few as I stopped in the middle of the field to do my stretches. Someone smacked my ass, and I hissed and glared at the offender. Theodore Kreel stood in front of me, laughing his stupid head off. "Oh, you are dead today, Kreel."

He snorted and smacked his thigh. "We'll see about that, Abbott." He then took off running.

With a growl, I ran after him. Theodore Kreel is Gideon's younger brother and the only alpha offspring I can stand. He is also one of the only ones that will spar with me in training. My brother won't even spar with me, most likely because no one should see the future Gamma getting beat by his sister. Ted and I had a competitive type of friendship. We were always trying to outdo each other. But at the end of the day, I was happy to fight with and for Ted. I always said he would be the better Alpha. I finally caught up to him and slammed my body into him. He stumbled and fell to the ground. I took the opportunity to slam myself on top of him while elbowing him in the back.

"f**k Temp." He snarled and pushed me off of him. I sprang to my feet as he did. We got into our fighting stances and began to exchange punches and kicks. Our sparring always became fierce and borderline dangerous. But we knew each other well enough to know when to stop. Blood spurted out of his nose when I lodged a hard punch into it.

"How many times have I broken your nose, Teddy?" I smirked as he kicked my knees, causing me to fall to the ground. He stood over me as blood dripped out of his nose.

"I have lost count. Lucky for you my alpha blood heals it fast." He held his hand down to pull me to my feet. I reached for his arm, only for him to pull it up and cackle. I kicked my leg out, which he grabbed and twisted, causing me to scream out. He dropped my leg.

I got back to my feet and used my pain to lunge at him wrapping my arms around his waist and tackling him to the ground again. I straddled him and punched his chest a few times before he was able to block me. He grabbed my wrist and held it tight.

"Get a room, you two." Came the voice of the head trainer George Fisher. The bulky man strode toward us. "I see you broke his nose again, Temperance."

I stood up and faced the trainer. "Don't I always."

George looked down at Ted. "Get up, Kreel. Go to the hospital and have that looked at."

Ted got to his feet and held his nose. "Nah, it will be alright."

The trainer shrugged. "It's your nose. You two are looking good today otherwise."

"Thank you, sir." I smiled at the trainer. He just nodded. Emotion and expression weren't something you saw a lot of on the old trainer.

"That should be enough training today. You both have school to get to." He pointed to the locker rooms.

"Sure," Ted responded. He looked at me. "Race you to the locker room."

"You are on," I smirked at him and took off running.

"Hey!" He shouted after me.

After showering again, I walked back to my house to change for school and get some breakfast. I ran up the stairs to my room. I put on a purple plaid skirt and a ripped Anthrax tank top that sat a little low on my chest. I pulled on my leather cuffs and put black lipstick on with some black eyeliner. Then I put on my scuffed-up black knee-high boots. I let my red hair hang loose on my shoulders. I finished my outfit with my dragon skull necklace. I grabbed my Jack Skellington messenger bag and headed downstairs. My mother was in the kitchen finishing breakfast as I sat next to Autumn.

She looked me up and down. "Mom isn't going to like that outfit."

I rolled my eyes, "Who cares?" I mumbled as I poured myself some juice.

"Temperance Jade Abbott!" My mother yelled on cue as she walked in with a plate of bacon. "What are you wearing?"

I grabbed some bacon and toast. "Clothes, mother," I replied sarcastically.

My mother folded her arms. "When are you going to start dressing like a grown woman. This tells people that you are trying too hard."

I rolled my eyes. "This is how I dress, Mom."

"You are going to be eighteen on Saturday. You will meet your mate, and he is going to want a grown woman, not an edgy teenager."

I bit into some bacon. "Well, he is just going to have to get used to it then. I am not going to drop everything that makes me, me to please some jerk."

"You shouldn't talk like that about your mate. Mates are sacred." My mother lectured me. "I suspect you will meet your mate on Saturday at your party."

I groaned. "You are still planning a party?"

"Yes, is it a crime that I want to celebrate the eighteenth birthday of my eldest daughter? You should be grateful."

My mom and Luna Melissa insisted on throwing me a huge party on Saturday for my birthday. Some fancy type affair when I would have been happy with a BBQ by the lake. My mother had gotten me a pink frilly dress that I hated. But I struck a deal with her. I would wear the dress and show up at the party, and she would let me go to Buffalo for the audition on Wednesday. It was one night of torture, and after that, I would be free. "I'm grateful you are letting me go to the audition."

"See, it's a win-win." My mother smirked. "And who knows, maybe you will have fun. Gideon is looking forward to it."

Again my eyes rolled. "Like I give a s**t about Gideon."

My mother narrowed her eyes and stormed out of the dining room. "That was cold, Tempe," My brother said to me as he sat down.

"What?" I gave him a sideways glance.

"I know you don't think so, but Gideon likes you." He defended his best friend.

I snorted as I finished my breakfast. "I doubt it. He sees me as a s****l conquest, and that is it. He doesn't care about me or any other girl. He just needs a place to dip his dick." I stood up and grabbed my bag.

Hayden shook his head at me. "That's not true, Tempe." He sighed. "You should give Gideon a chance."

I glared at my brother. "He torments my friends. He constantly picks on me. He isn't worth my time. I know he is your friend and Alpha, but he is an asshole. Ted should be the next Alpha, not Gideon." I growled. "Bye." I snarled and stomped out of the house. I walked down the road towards the school. I was fuming. Twigs snapped, and I sensed someone walking next to me. Then an arm wrapped around my shoulder, and the woodsy scent of my best friend engulfed my senses.

"What pissed you off this morning?" Jeff asked me. I glanced at him. He was dressed in black jeans with a black Black Sabbath t-shirt. On his feet were his black boots with gold buckles. He had on his black trench coat, and his blonde hair was pulled back in a ponytail.

I sighed heavily. "Oh, you know the usual. My mother lectured me about my clothes and other crap. I so can't wait till we are out of this forsaken place."

Jeff laughed. "Oh, it's not that bad, TJ." He kissed my cheek. I felt so comforted in his arms, even though it made Tarja growl.

My wolf had been growing more and more restless the last few days. She seemed to get angry whenever I kissed Jeff or let him touch me. I didn't understand it. She kept telling me to save myself for our mate. But my heart is set on Jeff. I don't know if he realizes how much I care for him. "I just want to be free to be myself and not have people constantly telling me to dress normal or act normal. It gets old."

"Things will get better, I promise."

We walked in silence till Gilbert and Lenny joined us. Lenny stood a little shorter than Jeff and was so thin people thought he had an eating disorder. He was wearing jeans and a black shirt with black sneakers. He has long stringy brown hair and blue eyes. Gilbert, the shortest, was only five feet tall and a bit chubby. Today he is wearing black cargo pants and a black Metallica t-shirt. He has short black hair and brown eyes.

"Morning lovebirds," Gilbert greeted us.

"We are not lovebirds," I denied, and he laughed.

"Whatever you say, T," He snorted and looked at Lenny. "So, practice today after school?"

I nodded. "Of course. We need all the practice we can get before Wednesday."

"Your mom is still letting you go?" Lenny asked me.

I sighed. "Yes, but I still have to show up at my stupid party and wear a girly pink dress," I nearly spat out. "She is thoroughly convinced I will meet my mate on Saturday." I shuddered at the thought as Tarja whimpered.

"That would suck," Gilbert snorted. "I mean, that would so put a damper on our plans if you are forced to stay here."

I shook my head. "I am so not staying here, Gilbert. If I meet my mate and he doesn't let me leave, then I will reject him." I stated, and Tarja growled viciously.

'You can't reject our mate. I need him.' She snarled.

'I am not going to let some mate tie me down to this place, Tarja. I have plans, and no one is going to get in my way.' I snarled back at her, and she whimpered before retreating into the back of my mind.

"Arguing with your wolf?" Jeff interjected.

I nodded. "Yeah. She doesn't like me talking about rejecting my mate."

We finally reached the school. I walked with Jeff to my locker and opened it to pull out my calculus book. The stench of perfume assaulted my senses, and I heard high-pitched giggling. I saw Gideon's girlfriend Bridget standing with her overly made-up posse a few feet from us. They were looking at Jeff and me and giggling.

"Ignore them," Jeff told me when I growled.

I tried my best until Bridget and her closest minion Ursula walked over. "I see you are wearing the latest in trash fashion," She sneered. I tried ignoring her. "What the hell is Anthrax?"

I took a deep breath and glanced at Jeff. "It's a band," I mumbled to the blonde-haired twit.

"Oh right, one of those noisemakers that you call music." She cackled along with Ursula.

"You wouldn't know good music if it shoved its c**k in your face," I glared at her. "Now, why don't you saunter off and find a d**k to suck." I spat out.

She scoffed and folded her arms. "You shouldn't talk to me like that. When Gideon takes over as Alpha next week, he is going to announce me as his Luna. So you should show me respect."

I looked at Jeff and burst out laughing. "You? You want me to show you respect?" I slapped my knees and kept laughing. "Dog s**t is more worthy of respect than you are, Bridget," I snarled out and slammed my locker, and walked away.

The rest of the school day went alright. It was just another school day preparing for finals. After the day ended, I waited for Jeff and the guys by the front door when my phone began to ring. Sighing, I took it out of my bag. "Hi, Mom."

"Temperance, I need you to come home and try on the dress. It just arrived."

"Mom," I whined. "I have band practice."

My mother scoffed. "Temperance this party is more important than band practice."

My shoulders fell. "Mom, the audition is the day after tomorrow. We need to get as much practice in before then," I argued as Jeff and Gilbert walked up to me. Jeff wrapped his arms around my waist.

"Temperance, quit arguing with me. You can go to band practice after I see how the dress looks on you. It won't take more than fifteen minutes."

I huffed. "Fine. I will be right there," I mumbled and hung up the phone. I threw it back into my bag.

"What's wrong?" Jeff said while kissing my forehead.

"My mom needs me to try on the stupid dress she bought me for the party."

"But practice?" Gilbert asked wide-eyed.

"It won't' take more than fifteen minutes, Gil. I will run over right after, I promise."

He sighed. "Fine. Come on, Jeff. Let's get started. Lenny should already be waiting for us."

Jeff frowned at Gilbert. "I'll walk with TJ. You guys can go on down to the basement."

Gilbert folded his arms. "Dude!"

Jeff held up his hands. "It's going to be alright, Gilbert. Okay."

"Fine," Gilbert growled and then stomped away from us.

Jeffery shook his head and clasped my hand, and we began walking towards my house. "He is just really nervous about Wednesday."

"I know. Poor Gil. He wants out of here more than the rest of us." I said to Jeff. Gilbert was bullied constantly by other pack members. He didn't have a wolf, and he was short and chubby. I loved Gilbert for his dark sense of humor and his creativity. Ever since we were five, Gilbert and I were friends. I was the only one that would talk to him. His parents treat him like s**t even though he is their only child. I felt terrible for him.

Jeff and I made it to my house in ten minutes. Opting to wait outside, Jeff sat on the front porch. I stomped into the house. My mother was sitting in the living room with Luna Melissa. The luna smiled at me and set down the coffee cup she had been holding. "Oh, Temperance. I cannot wait to see the dress on you."

"I can wait," I mumbled as my mother and Luna Melissa stood up and led me to my mother's room. I sat on the bed with my arms folded while she went into the large closet. She walked out with the god-awful dress on her arm.

Luna Melissa clapped her hands. "Madison, you have outdone yourself. Gideon is going to love that."

I narrowed my eyes. Why would Gideon care? I thought to myself. My mother handed me the dress. "Put it on Temperance." She told me. "And knock that scowl off your face."

I mumbled curses as I walked into the closet and took off my clothes to put on the stupid dress. It wasn't just pink but the pinkest girliest thing my mother could find. The dress is some strapless chiffon thing. With a silver belt that sits right below my breasts. All in all, not my style. I didn't even bother looking in the mirror before stomping out of the closet.

Luna Melissa clapped her hands. "Oh, Temperance, you look so beautiful. So elegant," She said while adjusting my bodice. My mother tugged at the sides. "What do you think about it?" She asked me.

"It's a dress, and it's pink. So I hate it," I replied. My mother smacked my arm.

"Temperance. You don't have to be so rude." She barked at me. She circled me. "I'm sorry about my daughter's attitude Missy."

The Luna shook her head. "It's alright, Maddie."

"Are you done yet?" I asked impatiently. I needed to get to practice. Poor Gilbert was probably close to having a meltdown.

"Did you even look at the dress, Temperance?" My mother asked.

I shook my head. "I put it on didn't I? I am only doing this so I can go to the audition."

"You don't care about your party?" The Luna asked with hurt in her tone. "Your mother and I are going to a lot of trouble for it. You should be celebrating your eighteenth birthday. The day you can finally meet your mate."

"You guys both know big parties are not my thing. I know you both mean well.  But this kind of thing will never be something I am into."

Luna Melissa pressed her lips together and scowled at my mother for a second. "Temperance, dear. You need to grow up and realize your place in this pack. Who knows, you may be the next Luna."

I shook my head. "Oh no. No. No. No." I repeated. "That is not happening. No offense, Luna. But no. That is so not happening." If I were the next Luna, then that meant I would have to be mated to Gideon. I wasn't rude enough to tell Luna Melissa that I would rather die a painful death than be mated to her son.

My mother glared at me. "You can take the dress off now, Temperance." She used the 'I'm disappointed in you' tone. I happily walked into the closet and started taking off the dress. "Do not ruin the dress," My mother shouted.

I carefully took the thing off and put it back on the hangers. I put my clothes back on and walked out of the closet. "Do you need anything else from me?"

My mother shook her head. "No, go to your silly band practice."

I felt a little guilty that I had angered my mother. Despite our differences, I still love my mother. She may not understand me or support my ambitions, but I do love her. I ran to my room, took off my tank top, and put on a tight black leather corset. I barely covered my stomach, and my breast almost spilled out of it. I pulled my hair into a ponytail and then ran out of my room. I heard his voice as I descended the stairs.

Gideon was sitting in the living room on the couch with Hayden and the future beta Justin. Dark eyes looked at me as I tried to cross the living room. I was about to reach for the door when Gideon suddenly stepped in front of me, blocking the door. Tarja was howling happily in my head as I scowled at him. "Where are you going dressed like that?" He demanded.

I tried to walk around him, but he blocked the door. "None of your business Gideon. Now get out of my way," I snarled.

He moved slightly away from the door, and I grabbed the doorknob, and he clasped my hand. "I don't like you going out of the house dressed like that."

I yanked my hand out of his hold. "Well, you aren't my father, so f**k, what you like or don't like. Now I have places to be, so move."

He growled lowly. "I don't like being disrespected like that Temperance. I will be Alpha of this pack, and you need to start showing me respect."

"Well, when you do something worthy of respect, then I will show it, Alpha," The alpha part slithered out of my mouth dripping with disdain.

He snorted. "You try so hard to be tough, Temperance. You know guys would like you more if you acted more lady-like."

"If guys can't accept me for me. Then they don't get me." I spatted. "Now, seriously, let me out."

He stepped aside, and I tried opening the door, and the next thing I knew, I was pressed against the wall with him in my face. His eyes turned black as he lowered his nose to sniff my hair. "You will look so lovely on my arm next week," He said to me.

"I don't do lovely."

He laughed. "Oh, you will, you will." He purred.

Tarja was howling in my head. She purred as he spoke. I don't know why my wolf was so into this conceited asshole. He smirked at me.

"I sense your wolf is into me. That makes Achillies very excited."

I rolled my eyes. "Can I go now?"

He boxed me into between his arms. "No. I have decided you are staying here."

"What?! You aren't the boss of me, Gideon. Now get out of my f*****g way!" I shouted at him.

He just smiled and pressed himself tighter against me. "I like it when you are angry." He lowered his face to my neck and grazed his teeth on my marking spot. "I should just mark you now."

My eyes widened as I realized what he was doing. He isn't even my mate. He licked my neck, and I felt sick. He was trying to mark me. I saw his fangs extend. I summoned my strength and kneed him as hard as I could in the balls. He roared and stumbled back enough for me to get out the door.

I looked back as he fell to his knees. "Serves you right, asshole."

Jeff was standing on the porch looking at the fallen future Alpha. "What the hell happened?"

"Dumbass wouldn't let me out, and then he tried to mark me., so I kneed his nuts." I linked my arm with Jeff's and then kissed his lips.

A vicious growl ripped out of Gideon's throat as I deepened the kiss with Jeff. He was clutching his testicles while seething with rage.

"Um TJ," Jeff pulled away from. "He is going to kill me if you keep kissing me like that."

I scoffed and grabbed his hand and pulled him down the sidewalk towards the street. I looked back to see my brother and Justin helping Gideon to his feet. The future Alpha was looking at me with rage. I smiled and flipped him the bird as I walked away with Jeff on my arm.

Fifteen minutes later, we finally made it to Jeff's house. Granny Witch was sitting on the front porch knitting. "Hi Granny," I greeted her as we walked up.

"It's about time you two got here. Poor little Gilbert is about to have a meltdown."

I sighed. "Thanks, Granny."

Jeff kissed her cheek. "Thanks, Gram."

We walked into the house and headed down to the basement. Lenny and Gilbert were just sitting on the couch. Gilbert sprung to his feet. "What took so long?"

"I had to deal with Gideon," I responded.

"Oh. Damn. Sorry." Gilbert went and sat behind his drum kit. "Let's get started then."

I nodded. "Agreed." I needed to get my mind off of Gideon. For some reason that I wasn't going to admit, my body liked it when he was pressed against me. My heart raced, and my stomach fluttered. I didn't want to admit that I almost liked the contact. "Flesh Eater," I said to the guys, and they all nodded. We then started practice while I did everything I could to keep my mind off of Gideon Kreel.